Taiwan On High Alert After China Deploys Its Largest-Ever Naval Fleet In Over 30 Years

China has sent its largest naval fleet in almost 30 years into the waters near Taiwan, raising serious concerns for the island and the region. Taiwan’s defence officials reported that nearly 90 Chinese naval and coast guard ships are active in areas from southern Japan to the South China Sea.

A spokesperson for Taiwan’s defence ministry, Sun Li-fang, said this is the biggest deployment seen since 1996, during a crisis over Taiwan’s presidential elections. “This large-scale deployment poses a direct threat to Taiwan,” Sun warned.

Another official, Hsieh Jih-sheng, added that although no live-fire drills have been reported, the activity looks like a simulation of a blockade around Taiwan.

Taiwan believes the deployment isn’t only targeting the island but is also meant to warn U.S. allies like Japan and the Philippines. Hsieh said China seems to be building two “naval walls” in the Pacific—one near Taiwan’s air defence zone and another farther into the ocean—to block foreign military forces.

Taiwan’s defence ministry announced the presence of 47 Chinese military planes and 12 warships in the last 24 hours. Some were operating close to the Taiwan Strait, while others were seen southwest of the island.

Officials say the ships appear to be practising attacks on foreign vessels and trying to push away both civilian and military planes in the region.

This heightened activity follows a recent Pacific trip by Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, who visited Guam and Hawaii and met U.S. officials. China, which opposes any formal Taiwan-U.S. ties, has accused Taiwan of working with “external forces”.

Beijing has not officially announced any military drills, and experts think this silence might be a strategy to catch Taiwan off guard while sending a strong message to other countries.

The deployment is being closely watched worldwide, with many seeing it as a major escalation. Taiwan’s leaders have vowed to defend their island, while the U.S. is monitoring the situation.

References: Reuters, NYTimes

Source: Maritime Shipping News